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White Lines #1
White Lines
Essence bestselling author Tracy Brown's scorching new urban tale about falling in love and one girl's descent into the murky and unrelenting depths of drug addiction
Jada left home at the age of sixteen, running from her own demons and the horrors of physical abuse inflicted by her mother's boyfriend. She partied hard, and life seemed good when she was with Born, the neighborhood kingpin whose name was synonymous with money, power, and respect. But all his love couldn't save her from a crack addiction. Jada goes from crack addict and prostitute to survivor and back again before she finds the strength to live for herself and come out on top. And her stormy romance with one of the fiercest hustlers on the streets makes White Lines one of the most unforgettable urban loves stories of the year.
Jada left home at the age of sixteen, running from her own demons and the horrors of physical abuse inflicted by her mother's boyfriend. She partied hard, and life seemed good when she was with Born, the neighborhood kingpin whose name was synonymous with money, power, and respect. But all his love couldn't save her from a crack addiction. Jada goes from crack addict and prostitute to survivor and back again before she finds the strength to live for herself and come out on top. And her stormy romance with one of the fiercest hustlers on the streets makes White Lines one of the most unforgettable urban loves stories of the year.
497 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2007
228 people are currently reading
5060 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Brown
89 books1,608 followersI am a storyteller, a painter of words, a writer who genuinely loves my craft.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 414 reviews
November 29, 2007
this book was a fast read and it was great. I put it right up there with Sista Souljah's coldest Winter Ever. But it went a lot deeper. awesome. Pleasantly surprised.
December 27, 2011
"White Lines" by Tracy Brown is the real reason I read urban fiction...because it's about real life, real situations and real people. Jada Ford, the main character in this novel, did not have the best upbringing...in fact, knowing that a mother's love in one of the most cherished things of this world, you could say she had one of the worst. She lost her father at a young age, and, because of this, her mother just gradually weakened and deteriorated. As her daughers grew up, Jada along with her younger sister, Ava, she didn't offer them any protection from her abusive boyfriend or from the streets because she couldn't even help herself. As time went on, Ava attempted suicide, moved into a group home, and Jada was forced to deal with her life as it was on her own. Gradually, she turned to things that would help her forget her very existence - weed, cocaine, crack and sprinkle a little prostitution in the mix. She was mixed up totally...then she met Born. She thought they were a really good match...kindred spirits, soulmates...she didn't think they would ever fall apart, but they did. Because, even though when they met, Jada was clean, but she still fell back into her old ways, and, needless did she know that Born was dealing with his own issues...his own past, and he wasn't allowing any room to help Jada deal with hers.
"White Lines" was so explosive and so powerful...Born and Jada taught readers the true meaning of friendship lasting the test of time because their's did. Never has a book affected me so much since reading "The Coldest Winter Ever" by Sister Soulja.
I give it 5 stars.
"White Lines" was so explosive and so powerful...Born and Jada taught readers the true meaning of friendship lasting the test of time because their's did. Never has a book affected me so much since reading "The Coldest Winter Ever" by Sister Soulja.
I give it 5 stars.
September 26, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
I’ve never read any of Tracy Brown’s older work but I should have known that she would take me on an emotional ride. What a raw, heartbreaking story that deals with addiction, grief, love, friendship, and forgiveness.
Although the subject matter was tough to read at times, I could not stop listening to this audiobook. Jada went through so much and she took me right through it with her. This girl couldn’t catch a break - she took hit after hit (no pun intended) but I kept rooting for her to pull it together. In the end, I was proud of Jada and I can’t wait to get into Sunny’s story.
I’ve never read any of Tracy Brown’s older work but I should have known that she would take me on an emotional ride. What a raw, heartbreaking story that deals with addiction, grief, love, friendship, and forgiveness.
Although the subject matter was tough to read at times, I could not stop listening to this audiobook. Jada went through so much and she took me right through it with her. This girl couldn’t catch a break - she took hit after hit (no pun intended) but I kept rooting for her to pull it together. In the end, I was proud of Jada and I can’t wait to get into Sunny’s story.
April 7, 2017
Wow, all I can say is 497 pages of pure joy!! I am so attached to this story line and the characters are to die for. This is a story from rags to riches, from hate to love, from pain to Joy and all in between. You are a product of your environment, and being a part of the drugs and crime life doesn't mean that you don't feel and hurt like others not in that world. I have found me a new best author. Tracy Brown you are brilliant and I look forward to sequel 2 and 3. This is beyond a good read, this is a great story. There is a difference. This is a fiction book with a whole lot of truth. Much love to you Born, Jada, Sunny and Ava. I know you are out there somewhere.
August 11, 2010
This was the first book I have read by Tracy Brown, and I was so impressed that as soon as I finished this one, I was on the internet checking out everything she had written and have fallen in love with her.
This story truly pulled me in because it is so real, it's not all about lovey dovey stuff that no one would believe. It's real people, real drama, and it puts you right in the middle of each chapter as if you are standing in the middle of the characters' conversations for youself. I truly felt apart of this story and I loved every character to the last page.
This story truly pulled me in because it is so real, it's not all about lovey dovey stuff that no one would believe. It's real people, real drama, and it puts you right in the middle of each chapter as if you are standing in the middle of the characters' conversations for youself. I truly felt apart of this story and I loved every character to the last page.
August 15, 2012
This book was an extremely explosive read. I found myself saying Wow, Oh My Gosh, I Can't Believe It, Oh Know She Didn't, and so many other phrases throughout this book while reading about Jada's life. She was really one tough cookie who endured so much. It was almost like watching a movie about this woman's life. At times I was thinking WTH is she doing! I literally said that to my self so many times because I just couldn't believe what I was reading. Born was the epitome of a natural born hustler. He is the kind of character woman love to read about. He was about his business, but about his woman also. He was down for Jada even with her tawdry past, and I couldn't help to have a lot of respect for his character. This would have been a 5 star read for me, but I felt the first 30% of this book just had way too much information. I did want to put the book down quite a bit in the beginning because I just had enough of reading about Jada and Born's childhood. Once the book started getting going when Jada and Born met, it was a non stop page turner. This book was extremely long. I am a pretty fast reader, and it took me about 8 or 9 hours to get through this one, but it was truly worth it. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
September 24, 2017
I was very hesitant in reading this book. I'm not into a lot of urban, drug-related stories but this one is totally different. It depicts an era where the drugs ran rampant throughout New York and focuses on the true side of drugs ( no Hollywood glamour) and the affects it had in the lives of the characters in the story. It was riveting, sad, gritty, manipulative, corrupt and jealousy rolled up into one outstanding storyline. This book read like a real soap opera; never knowing what to expect from the characters but hoping they're not going to choose the wrong choice.
There's a real love story for two couples that goes awry.....Jada, Sonny, Born and Dorian are the crem dela crem in the drug game and they're not people to mess with. You'll either like or love these two couples or hate them. This book could also get listed as urban romance.
There's a real love story for two couples that goes awry.....Jada, Sonny, Born and Dorian are the crem dela crem in the drug game and they're not people to mess with. You'll either like or love these two couples or hate them. This book could also get listed as urban romance.
February 26, 2013
I love a good story. I love good story-telling. I can read a 1000 pages without complaint, stopping only to take care of life's other businesses, if the story is great and captivating.
White Lines was okay. I only really fell in love with the book at the end, which is not really what I look for. It's hood literature, taking us to the NY projects again and making us live the life of the 'hustlers' as the story unfolds. The book contains relevant messages on the numerous social vices, the most prominent being drug addiction. I saw the whole 'game' from a different perspective, empathizing instead of sympathising with, or looking down on users/abusers.
Within the many imperfections, grew a love story that would eventually falter under mistrust, deception, disappointment and hurt. Despite all these, one can't help wishing the main characters Jada and Born would make up in the end, burying all differences and starting a new chapter. Dorian and Sunny personified love that stands the test of time, works through the difficulties and thrives under the will to make things work.
I found it hard to like the writer's style. I felt the story could have been told in less words. The reader is taken through a series of repetitions that do not do well for one's attention. Some of the diversions could easily have been done away with, leaving a story with great relevance, while keeping a simple style that wouldn't lose the reader among the many pages. A few times, I found myself mixing up the characters with those in Sister Souljah's 'The Coldest Winter Ever', due to the similarities in the main and sub-plots.
Three stars.
White Lines was okay. I only really fell in love with the book at the end, which is not really what I look for. It's hood literature, taking us to the NY projects again and making us live the life of the 'hustlers' as the story unfolds. The book contains relevant messages on the numerous social vices, the most prominent being drug addiction. I saw the whole 'game' from a different perspective, empathizing instead of sympathising with, or looking down on users/abusers.
Within the many imperfections, grew a love story that would eventually falter under mistrust, deception, disappointment and hurt. Despite all these, one can't help wishing the main characters Jada and Born would make up in the end, burying all differences and starting a new chapter. Dorian and Sunny personified love that stands the test of time, works through the difficulties and thrives under the will to make things work.
I found it hard to like the writer's style. I felt the story could have been told in less words. The reader is taken through a series of repetitions that do not do well for one's attention. Some of the diversions could easily have been done away with, leaving a story with great relevance, while keeping a simple style that wouldn't lose the reader among the many pages. A few times, I found myself mixing up the characters with those in Sister Souljah's 'The Coldest Winter Ever', due to the similarities in the main and sub-plots.
Three stars.
September 3, 2017
Wow, all I can say is 497 pages of pure joy!! I am so attached to this story line and the characters are to die for. This is a story from rags to riches, from hate to love, from pain to joy and all in-between. You are a product of your environment and being a part of the drug and crime life doesn't mean that you don't feel and hurt like others who are not in that world.. I have found me a new best author. Tracy Brown you are brilliant and I look forward to sequel 2 and 3. This is beyond a good read, this is a great story. There is a difference. This is a fiction book with a lot of truth. Much love to you Born, Jada, Sunny and Ava. I know you are out there somewhere.
May 18, 2023
I enjoyed this from beginning to end! It was far from your typical love story.
August 1, 2024
Thank you Tracey Brown!!! This book was and is so good! Kept me on my toes!
So far never read a bad book from you
Jade and Born 🥰
Ordering the follow up!!! Can’t wait to read more about SUNNY!
So far never read a bad book from you
Jade and Born 🥰
Ordering the follow up!!! Can’t wait to read more about SUNNY!
December 21, 2023
White. Powder. Coke. Blow. Line. Snow. Rock. Cocaine. Crack
This book was so good to me! This is what blossomed my love for urban fiction all those years ago. Tracy Brown says in her author’s note that no one wins in the drug game. My heart broke several times over on this journey. White Lines shows us that there are so many losses, but the triumphs are the real prize. As a reader, I was satisfied with the ending but there are two more books in the series. I’ll absolutely take my time getting to those. 🤍
This book was so good to me! This is what blossomed my love for urban fiction all those years ago. Tracy Brown says in her author’s note that no one wins in the drug game. My heart broke several times over on this journey. White Lines shows us that there are so many losses, but the triumphs are the real prize. As a reader, I was satisfied with the ending but there are two more books in the series. I’ll absolutely take my time getting to those. 🤍
May 8, 2025
My book bestie Chas recommended this and it was sooooo good!The drama had me entertained and I can’t wait to read part 2. It definitely did a good job of capturing the 80s-90s and it was a vibe!
February 17, 2014
So many people put the gold seal of "urban fiction" on The Coldest Winter, which I would agree is a good read all the way around although I was disappointed with the 'sequel but not really a sequel' follow up.
Tracy Brown is now a gold standard for me. Whenever people find that I am a reader, writer and lover of the spoken word they will suggest various books. This one was suggested to me by someone that consumes "urban fiction" in the prison fiction sense of the word so I was concerned. I have picked up those books but find that I have to be in a phase to read them. One that requires me to be mindless in my process and looking for an easy read, which is a rare mood for me. Tracy kicked it up, many notches. I find her books to be Jackie Collins with an urban flare. There isn't meaningless cursing or sex, the plot is well written and the salacious aspect is woven into a good story all the way around. Additionally, she has paired with Penquin for all of the books that I have read of hers which means that everything is edited "to a t" and I don't have to self edit as I read.
This book follows a long the lines of the wayward woman and all of the encounters that she could possibly have. The subplots are built for good follow up story lines and the characters are well developed. One of the few fictional books that I read quickly but wished it didn't have to end.
Tracy Brown is now a gold standard for me. Whenever people find that I am a reader, writer and lover of the spoken word they will suggest various books. This one was suggested to me by someone that consumes "urban fiction" in the prison fiction sense of the word so I was concerned. I have picked up those books but find that I have to be in a phase to read them. One that requires me to be mindless in my process and looking for an easy read, which is a rare mood for me. Tracy kicked it up, many notches. I find her books to be Jackie Collins with an urban flare. There isn't meaningless cursing or sex, the plot is well written and the salacious aspect is woven into a good story all the way around. Additionally, she has paired with Penquin for all of the books that I have read of hers which means that everything is edited "to a t" and I don't have to self edit as I read.
This book follows a long the lines of the wayward woman and all of the encounters that she could possibly have. The subplots are built for good follow up story lines and the characters are well developed. One of the few fictional books that I read quickly but wished it didn't have to end.
May 16, 2023
I remember buying this book when it was first released 12 years ago,and it becoming one of my favorites. I let my friend borrow it and never got it back. Anyways I’m rereading all the books I fell in love with as a teen/young adult and had to repurchase this one. I didn’t really remember anything that happened aside from her being a crack head….so it was like experiencing the book for the first time. I never read part 2 or 3, but I did purchase them and hopefully get around to them soon.
January 24, 2011
This is the best Street Lit book I've ever read!!! I recommend this book to everyone I know who enjoys this type of literature...Brown really struck me with this one!
November 28, 2024
I can’t say this enough I have yet to read a book by Tracy that I didn’t love‼️ I thought Brooklyn was a nerve racking character but Jada officially got her beat. Her drug addiction was so bad and she was so young she had me stressed. Then Mr.Charlie I HATED him. Idk who was worse him or her babydaddy.
Her mama wasn’t a real mother to her or her sister Ava. She was a major part of why Jada turned out the way she did and Ava ended up in a group home. Then just when I thought Jada got her life together after meeting Born everything was up in shambles again. Having access to the finer things in life and a man that would give her the world wasn’t enough to keep her from relapsing. Jada really had to lose everything and hit rock bottom before she finally got her life back on track.
Overall, I enjoyed the book Tracy always delivers with the complex characters, authenticity, and street ish. She’s one of the few authors that can make me love, hate, and sympathize with a character all at the same time. My only downside with this one was I felt it dragged a bit. Definitely could’ve been 100 pages shorter but the drama kept me invested so I still recommend. Can’t wait to see what more this series has in store for Jada.
Her mama wasn’t a real mother to her or her sister Ava. She was a major part of why Jada turned out the way she did and Ava ended up in a group home. Then just when I thought Jada got her life together after meeting Born everything was up in shambles again. Having access to the finer things in life and a man that would give her the world wasn’t enough to keep her from relapsing. Jada really had to lose everything and hit rock bottom before she finally got her life back on track.
Overall, I enjoyed the book Tracy always delivers with the complex characters, authenticity, and street ish. She’s one of the few authors that can make me love, hate, and sympathize with a character all at the same time. My only downside with this one was I felt it dragged a bit. Definitely could’ve been 100 pages shorter but the drama kept me invested so I still recommend. Can’t wait to see what more this series has in store for Jada.
May 26, 2022
This book was gritty, a roller coaster and juicy!!! I can’t wait to finish the series!
July 27, 2011
A book for the not faint of heart it's a very gritty real life look at the the impact that Crack made on New York in the 90s. If your looking for the book that has nice refined characters that found themselves with a problem and then headed to rehab and were magically cured this is not the book for you.
White Lines kept me up until 5 am most of the time wanting to see how it all turned out. Born is my favorite character in this or any book I have ever read. He reminds me so much of my husband. I loved that he accepted Jada for who she was. He saw her scars and loved her anyway. He was tempted by Jada's sister, but held it down. It was wonderful to see a man written that really was about something. You don't see that a lot in books today. It was also chilling the way he would confront his feelings and how he used the tone of his words to slash and cut them.
This book had me jumping out of my seat. If I had a nickel for every time I said, "Ooo Shizz" I would be a very rich woman.
Wasn't particularly fond of Sunny, but found her awesome as Jada's friend.
Loved Dorian and Sonny together the love triangle with this couple was explosive and heart wrenching all at the same time.
Jada broke my heart time and time again as her addiction unfolded. Found it impossible to stay quiet during her relapses.
Almost 500 pgs with no hokey ending of love and light. Just life lived and lessons learned. I really, really liked that!
White Lines kept me up until 5 am most of the time wanting to see how it all turned out. Born is my favorite character in this or any book I have ever read. He reminds me so much of my husband. I loved that he accepted Jada for who she was. He saw her scars and loved her anyway. He was tempted by Jada's sister, but held it down. It was wonderful to see a man written that really was about something. You don't see that a lot in books today. It was also chilling the way he would confront his feelings and how he used the tone of his words to slash and cut them.
This book had me jumping out of my seat. If I had a nickel for every time I said, "Ooo Shizz" I would be a very rich woman.
Wasn't particularly fond of Sunny, but found her awesome as Jada's friend.
Loved Dorian and Sonny together the love triangle with this couple was explosive and heart wrenching all at the same time.
Jada broke my heart time and time again as her addiction unfolded. Found it impossible to stay quiet during her relapses.
Almost 500 pgs with no hokey ending of love and light. Just life lived and lessons learned. I really, really liked that!
October 16, 2009
Synopsis-In this book Jada runs away from home at the age of 16. She does whatever she wants and eventually became a crackhead. When she finally found the strength to stop and get clean she met a guy named Born and shortly fell in love.They go throuqh there ups and downs and Jada turns back into a crackhead and her boyfreind leaves her. 3 years later Born spots out Jada and realizes she is clean from all her mistakes and problem and they reunite.
Classification- This book is targeted more on teenagers and adults because the things the charaters go through only are realted to adults and teenagers. It wouldnt be appropriate for kids because they wouldnt really understand whats going on.Adults would probrably be the best because the main charater is a goes through things that mostly adults go through and some ofthem can probably could relate or know's someone that can relate.
Criticsim-This book is good literature. I like how the story is descriptive enough to make you feel like its a movie in stead of a book. It makes you feel like your watching over the characters and you'r attached to them. I dont like how some of the things seem like that couldnt happen.
Classification- This book is targeted more on teenagers and adults because the things the charaters go through only are realted to adults and teenagers. It wouldnt be appropriate for kids because they wouldnt really understand whats going on.Adults would probrably be the best because the main charater is a goes through things that mostly adults go through and some ofthem can probably could relate or know's someone that can relate.
Criticsim-This book is good literature. I like how the story is descriptive enough to make you feel like its a movie in stead of a book. It makes you feel like your watching over the characters and you'r attached to them. I dont like how some of the things seem like that couldnt happen.
January 28, 2013
A good book overall. The story that reminds me how strong the crack epidemic really was during the nineties. Everyone in this story was scarred. The only thing I didn't like was that it was a little to long for urban fiction....and the fact that by some miracle it had a happy ending.
December 13, 2020
What a story! I kept seeing this book on different blogs, Facebook, and Instagram. I was a bit skeptical because the book is right at 500 pages, but it is very engaging and you will not feel like you've read 500 pages at all.
April 8, 2010
Good storyline just way too long. The story just stretched on & on to the point where I was sick of the characters.
December 31, 2024
3.75 this one is hard for me to rate but I’ll elaborate on why I docked it but would still recommend it.
This is a re-read for me and I wanted to see if the book was as good as I remember.
Pros:
- this is the real and raw of drug addiction so it was different (in a good way) to read more in depth about a MC struggling.
- the character development spans over a decade plus so you truly get to see it all the way through with Jada and Born.
-the plot itself is great. You literally grow up with Jada and Born and fall in love with them.
Cons:
- I think it could have been shorter. Not by much but a solid 75-100 pages off. Theres spots where we could have gotten more of Jada and Born love development. Once they get together, it kind of vaguely takes you through until the obvious. But I do understand that covering over a decade in a book under 400 pages might be a challenge.
- the dual 3rd POV even though it’s not notated as such got confusing sometimes. Even with the mentioning of Sunny and Dorian, it appeared to be a true 3rd POV versus their characters so I didn’t enjoy that.
Overall it’s a good book. It’s set in the late 90’s/early 2000’s so it was easy to get sucked into this world. Drugs and addiction aren’t really talked about in most fiction books to this degree.
This is a re-read for me and I wanted to see if the book was as good as I remember.
Pros:
- this is the real and raw of drug addiction so it was different (in a good way) to read more in depth about a MC struggling.
- the character development spans over a decade plus so you truly get to see it all the way through with Jada and Born.
-the plot itself is great. You literally grow up with Jada and Born and fall in love with them.
Cons:
- I think it could have been shorter. Not by much but a solid 75-100 pages off. Theres spots where we could have gotten more of Jada and Born love development. Once they get together, it kind of vaguely takes you through until the obvious. But I do understand that covering over a decade in a book under 400 pages might be a challenge.
- the dual 3rd POV even though it’s not notated as such got confusing sometimes. Even with the mentioning of Sunny and Dorian, it appeared to be a true 3rd POV versus their characters so I didn’t enjoy that.
Overall it’s a good book. It’s set in the late 90’s/early 2000’s so it was easy to get sucked into this world. Drugs and addiction aren’t really talked about in most fiction books to this degree.
October 7, 2024
Let me just start by saying this story DID NOT disappoint! Tracy definitely did her thing with this one!
Edna is definitely the mother you would not want! You are supposed to protect your kids but of course here she is taking up for a no good loser! Ava was severely fed up and who couldn’t understand why. Your step father sitting around sexualizing you and you aren’t believing it. Smh trifling. JD should have been someone rotting in a hole!! Edna was such a weak woman it makes no sense! I knew Charlie was going to be some bs! Why are you taking advantage of a child under the influence 🥺🥺 you already have the momma why do you need the daughter too?? Not to mention why were you condoning her then pimping her out?? Ugh trifling nonsense.
BORNNNNN! I was so happy when Jada got clean and met the man of her dreams. I hate the fact Sunny got her to become dirty again 🫤🫤 I just wish she stayed away from her because crack was her literal vice 😩😩
Jamari… trifling dirty bastard. He got every single negative thing her deserved!
Edna is definitely the mother you would not want! You are supposed to protect your kids but of course here she is taking up for a no good loser! Ava was severely fed up and who couldn’t understand why. Your step father sitting around sexualizing you and you aren’t believing it. Smh trifling. JD should have been someone rotting in a hole!! Edna was such a weak woman it makes no sense! I knew Charlie was going to be some bs! Why are you taking advantage of a child under the influence 🥺🥺 you already have the momma why do you need the daughter too?? Not to mention why were you condoning her then pimping her out?? Ugh trifling nonsense.
BORNNNNN! I was so happy when Jada got clean and met the man of her dreams. I hate the fact Sunny got her to become dirty again 🫤🫤 I just wish she stayed away from her because crack was her literal vice 😩😩
Jamari… trifling dirty bastard. He got every single negative thing her deserved!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2024
This was my favorite read in 2007. I’ve read so many great books since then, and surprisingly, this is still a top read for me today. I now understand much more about love, trauma, and addiction than I did back then, so the storyline hit even harder this time around. The characters felt so real and I enjoyed watching them learn and grow. I’m diving straight into book 2.
December 20, 2018
This book was entertaining, though it started to drag after a while.
Despite the author’s preface claim that it was a condemnation of drug life, the only way that it did this is by judging and being harsh to those struggling with addiction. It glorified being a drug dealer and even seemed to regard the murders committed by the male main characters as just part of a day’s work.
This book was quite sexist— women’s value seemed to exist solely in their sexiness and their loyalty to their men. I also thought it was BS that Jada’s drug use was a dealbreaker but Born’s drug dealing was A-OK with everyone.
Other unrealistic things:
-Born is supposedly both intelligent and “totally in love” with Jada yet manages to not notice that she’s hooked on drugs for a year nor that she’s stealing from him.
- Ava goes to an Ivy League collège yet still comes back from break and regards Born as a real catch even though he’s a criminal
- Dorian gets shot (unsurprising; he’s over 30 and has been in the drug trade for a decade) but it has nothing to do with his lifestyle, just (of course) a crazy woman who is “so in love with him.”
- The cops in this book are all idiots and even when they pull over a car full of dealers, guns and drugs, they don’t search the car or catch anyone. Seriously?
Anyway, this was the brain equivalent of watching reality TV— kept me entertained while I was painting the house but I didn’t even finish because I was too sick of the misogyny and double standards. Read it if you like to hear about clothes, parties, sex, and drugs and don’t mind a story full of holes or objectification.
Most incredible was
Despite the author’s preface claim that it was a condemnation of drug life, the only way that it did this is by judging and being harsh to those struggling with addiction. It glorified being a drug dealer and even seemed to regard the murders committed by the male main characters as just part of a day’s work.
This book was quite sexist— women’s value seemed to exist solely in their sexiness and their loyalty to their men. I also thought it was BS that Jada’s drug use was a dealbreaker but Born’s drug dealing was A-OK with everyone.
Other unrealistic things:
-Born is supposedly both intelligent and “totally in love” with Jada yet manages to not notice that she’s hooked on drugs for a year nor that she’s stealing from him.
- Ava goes to an Ivy League collège yet still comes back from break and regards Born as a real catch even though he’s a criminal
- Dorian gets shot (unsurprising; he’s over 30 and has been in the drug trade for a decade) but it has nothing to do with his lifestyle, just (of course) a crazy woman who is “so in love with him.”
- The cops in this book are all idiots and even when they pull over a car full of dealers, guns and drugs, they don’t search the car or catch anyone. Seriously?
Anyway, this was the brain equivalent of watching reality TV— kept me entertained while I was painting the house but I didn’t even finish because I was too sick of the misogyny and double standards. Read it if you like to hear about clothes, parties, sex, and drugs and don’t mind a story full of holes or objectification.
Most incredible was
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2021
Tracy Brown had me on an emotional roller coaster with White Lines. You could pick out any character in the book and literally feel heartbroken for the amount of unresolved childhood trauma they were dealing with. Trauma that was still playing out in their adult lives. Impacting all their decisions.
I wanted to hate Jada and Ava’s mom but once you sat back, you realized she was a victim too. Maybe she didn’t know how to be the mother they needed. She didn’t know how to protect her girls when she couldn’t even protect herself. I literally shed tears when Jada got out of rehab and her mom not only never responded to any of her letters but wouldn’t even answer the door for her. It was just so sad. I’m not too fond of Ava either after the sexual tension between her and Born. I found it really weird from both perspectives. I honestly couldn’t even look at Born the same after that😭 It was the ultimate act of betrayal to me from both ends and they didn’t even have sex.
I also feel very bittersweet towards Born because I felt like he knew Jada didn’t have anyone and when she needed him the most he couldn’t get out of his own way to be there for her. It was hard to read and just sad. It would’ve been extremely hard for me to forgive that.
I loved Jada and Sunny’s friendship and it was beautiful seeing them both get sober and turn their lives around. I was happy that when no one else was around Sunny came to Jada’s rescue to help her get her life together and get her son back. Honestly I would read an entire series just about the adventures of these two LOL
I wanted to hate Jada and Ava’s mom but once you sat back, you realized she was a victim too. Maybe she didn’t know how to be the mother they needed. She didn’t know how to protect her girls when she couldn’t even protect herself. I literally shed tears when Jada got out of rehab and her mom not only never responded to any of her letters but wouldn’t even answer the door for her. It was just so sad. I’m not too fond of Ava either after the sexual tension between her and Born. I found it really weird from both perspectives. I honestly couldn’t even look at Born the same after that😭 It was the ultimate act of betrayal to me from both ends and they didn’t even have sex.
I also feel very bittersweet towards Born because I felt like he knew Jada didn’t have anyone and when she needed him the most he couldn’t get out of his own way to be there for her. It was hard to read and just sad. It would’ve been extremely hard for me to forgive that.
I loved Jada and Sunny’s friendship and it was beautiful seeing them both get sober and turn their lives around. I was happy that when no one else was around Sunny came to Jada’s rescue to help her get her life together and get her son back. Honestly I would read an entire series just about the adventures of these two LOL
November 22, 2010
I loved this book. I finished it within a week and it's a very lengthy I just couldn't put it down until I finished it. To me Jada was very strong although many would disagree because of her addiction. The book really puts you in a addicts prospective. There were many times I found myself wanting Jada to be through with drugs so badly but I wasn't expecting Born's love to save her. The saddest part was when Dorian died. It was just the way it happened. Most people would call Raquel crazy and obsessed. But I kind of felt for her. When you really love someone you want them to be happy but not with someone else. In a strange way I felt that Dorian got what he deserved. You can't play with peoples emotions. He stepped out on Sunny and it was only Karma that he got what he got. But Sunny was a really strong powerful woman. I loved how her love for Dorian never died even through all the up's and down's. Jamari was just like any other person who idols someone but would never want to admit it. I really didn't like the way he played Jada though. I loved Born's mother she was so sweet ! This is a must-read. It will make you laugh and cry !
February 26, 2011
I found this book disappointing. As the author promises, she does deal with the reality of families involved in the drug trade and addiction. However, she makes light of the psychological damage that is done to the people.
The adults in the story prey on the children. It is uncomfortable to read this part of the action. However, some characters just decide to change their ways. No explanation is given. The main character's sister is an example. She goes from living in poverty to attending an Ivy League college, as though anyone can go if they just wake up one morning and say that is what they want to do.
The main characters supposedly overcome their issues. When they turn their lives around, they thank God, but have no conscience about the fact that they have murdered and left a path of destruction behind them. It also never seems to bother these characters that their wealth is based on their illegal activities of the past.
The author said she wanted this novel to be a warning to others. Instead, it sent the message that you can live a wild life and then take the money earned illegal to enjoy a "normal" life later.
The adults in the story prey on the children. It is uncomfortable to read this part of the action. However, some characters just decide to change their ways. No explanation is given. The main character's sister is an example. She goes from living in poverty to attending an Ivy League college, as though anyone can go if they just wake up one morning and say that is what they want to do.
The main characters supposedly overcome their issues. When they turn their lives around, they thank God, but have no conscience about the fact that they have murdered and left a path of destruction behind them. It also never seems to bother these characters that their wealth is based on their illegal activities of the past.
The author said she wanted this novel to be a warning to others. Instead, it sent the message that you can live a wild life and then take the money earned illegal to enjoy a "normal" life later.
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